Experience, Expertise, and intuition can be learned when we start to think of it through this simple equation:
Intuition = Experience + Expertise
Experience (or repeated exposure):
Experience is the life equivalent of experimentation. You put yourself out there, you win some and lose some, and always learn in the process. It’s the playground where you can try things out. Intuitive Project Managers have been on their own playgrounds exposing themselves repeatedly to challenges that require dedication and effort to hone their skills. They set up a project plan and sometimes they win, sometimes they learn. They don’t see their shortcomings as failures but rather view it as opportunities to learn and grow.
Expertise (owning your craft)
As we become a master of our trade, we help shape our subconscious mind and understand which observations are more important, valid and reliable. As individuals working in the space of Project Management, we’ve been building your experience from day one. As we’ve continued on this journey, we’ve also developed our expertise. We’ve been working on experience since the very beginning of our Project Management journey and we’ve developed some expertise along the way. You may be wondering – “how can I intentionally and strategically put myself in experiences that will help me build my intuition, expertise and self-trust?”
It all starts with a little vision and planning
You’ve probably thought a lot about what your life will look like once you’ve achieved your optimal PM role. It may be leading a large enterprise wide, national or global project, or it may be you leading a new start up organization. But have you thought about what your life will look like beyond the working world and how your chosen career path may impact that life you’re looking to build?
Find your intuition
You may be thinking, “but where does this intuition live?”
Intuition isn’t universal:
You need to start with a map. You need to know where you are right now and have at least an idea of where you’re going or what you want your world to look like.
In your mind
Sometimes you’ll get a thought about something without any specific trigger. Maybe you meet someone new and the thought “this seems like a trustworthy person” pops into your mind. And you’re not even sure where the thought came from (but you listen anyway!).
In your body
Your body loves giving you feedback. Ever notice sweaty palms all of a sudden, or get butterflies in your stomach when you see another meeting invite pop up in your calendar? This is our body’s way of giving us “sings” of what might be coming.
In your spirit
We often feel strong emptions that can’t be mistaken. We’re angry, we’re joyful, we’re bored, we’re excited. Other times we just feel “someway”. We have a feeling that we can’t quite put our finger on, and that we also can’t shake. That’s your spirit talking to you!
- What does your intuition look like to you?
- What is a situation where you often ignore your intuition?
- How can you honor your intuition today?
- What did you do?
- What urges came up?
- How did you handle your triggers?
- What did you do to take care of yourself?
Remember, the answers to these questions are simply information – not good, not bad, just information. Information to help you learn, grow and thrive. By answering these questions, you are reflecting on your pain points and understanding your triggers. Remember the experience cube? That’s one way of facilitating your reflection as you answer these questions, and in doing so, you slowly but surely start to hone into your intuition.
Tying intuition into Project Management
As you expose yourself to more projects and initiatives, your practice of self-reflection will lend its hand to the way you assess your projects, the resources you have available, the budget you need work within, the scope of what needs to be delivered on and the time you have to complete the project. You will also start to draw parallels to your past experiences and in doing so, you bring your ever growing expertise into your design and planning of the project at hand. At times when you’re stuck or your back is up against an improbable deadline, your body may urge you to head out for a run to burn off some steam and on that run, you may have an “a-ha!” moment that helps you meet that deadline miraculously! We hope this little visit with your intuition has helped you recognize that you can lean in and trust yourself with the decisions you make, and that it continues to strengthen your relationship with those feelings that come up in moments of tension and creativity.